Leonen reminds Congress: Hearings aren’t courts
'No matter how noble the intentions of Congress are, they cannot assume powers that belong to our prosecutorial bodies and courts.'
'No matter how noble the intentions of Congress are, they cannot assume powers that belong to our prosecutorial bodies and courts.'
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen has reminded both the Senate and the House of Representatives that they cannot act as a court or a prosecutor when conducting inquiries in aid of legislation.
In a separate concurring opinion to the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the petitions filed by pro-Duterte vloggers against the House Tri-Committee, Leonen stressed that Congress has no authority to determine the guilt of individuals invited to its hearings.
He underscored that Congress is neither a law enforcement body nor a trial agency, and that its investigations must always be tied to its core constitutional duty: crafting laws.
“No matter how noble the intentions of Congress are, they cannot assume powers that belong to our prosecutorial bodies and courts,” Leonen wrote.
He further explained: “The determination of who is liable for a crime or illegal activity, the investigation of each official’s role, the decision on who should face prosecution, and the task of making findings of fact regarding anomalies — especially the determination of criminal guilt — are not functions of Congress.”
Leonen reiterated that any inquiry must be “related to, and in furtherance of, a legitimate task of Congress.”
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